Sunday, 26 July 2015

From watching the game against Newcastle United today it's clear to see the statement at the top is 100% true! Today was a special day for us all as it was a legend's last game captian fantastic Chris Morgan's testimonial. Infront of a 12,000, the Blades completley outhought, outplayed and out muscled a Newcastle side fulled of Premier League quality. Adkins, on the back of signing Billy Sharp (on a two year deal) and Connor Sammon ( season long loan) started upfront with the duo of Marc McNulty and Che Adams. Che has received glowling reports from the pre season programme from both manager and supporters and today showed exactly why. Newcastle, who were thought to be interested in Che before the Blades snapped him up should of been 2-0 after Tim Krul somehow palmed away a stunning powerful shot from Che just outside the box. He contiuned to cause problems for the Newcastle defence all game. Linking up well with Marc he slid the ball through a massive gap in the Newcastle defence to McNulty who nut megged international goalkeeper Tim Krul to level 1-1. Keiron Freeman scored a whopper just outside the box as he immaculetly curled the ball in the corner on a first time volley.

But I didn't want to write about the goals and moments in the game, I wanted to comment on the peformance as a whole. Nigel's team absolutley dominated a quality Newcastle side with european asparations from start to finish. Basham and Baxter (yes, he played well) dictated the game in midfield. Basham continuously halting Newcastle attacks and Baxter playing exquisite balls through and all over the pitch. As a Blade this peformance proved to me that this is our season! I've been sceptical over the past couple of seasons but on the back of this peformance i fully believe Jim and co have definiatley found the right man. I mean, we completley bossed a full strength Newcastle side. Che is gonna be a star and Adkins will certanliy have selection headaches in the forwards department. I fully believe that if we sign a decent centre half (will soon) then promotion will definitley be sealed. The front line have got 10/15 goals between them each easily. Yes even Connor Sammon and Higdon.

But, yeah we will go up this season. Believe Blades! UTB. Below: Our new strike force!

Sunday, 19 July 2015

Liverpool Football Club are on the verge of signing Belgian Christian Benteke in a deal worth 32.5 million pounds. The clubs agreed a fee on Friday and now the Belgian is set for a medical at Melwood training ground. Statistically this is a great signing for Liverpool as a graph from (AVafC.co.uk) shows Benteke has scored double figures in the 3 seasons he's had in the Premier League. Consistent or what! Although, some Liverpool fans (we'll the majority) will be underwhelmed with the signing seen as he doesn't replicate the fast, pacey strikers that their fans craved. Benteke seemed to be Rodgers only striker target, and now Raheem Sterling has left he's got £49million at his disposal and he's chose to spend it on the upcoming inform Belgian striker. Every game Villa played against Liverpool over the last 3 seasons, Benteke has been a key feature scoring and assisting goals in near enough every game. With the service of Coutinho and Firminio whipping balls In for the Belgian Liverpool fans would hope he'd double his total of 13 last season. In my eyes the signing of Benteke is a good signing for Liverpool and is make or break for Rodgers. He blew the Suarez money and now FSG have given him the Sterling money and he's got his Number one target. If he fails I think that will be the end of Rodgers if he succeeds maybe more big signings in January, who knows?

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

The players return from their lads holiday's, family holiday's and stag do's soon ready for pre season next Monday. This will give Nigel Adkins the time to reassess his squad and adapt it to spear head a promotion charge next season. In this article i will look at every one of the Blades pre season opponents.

First up it's Ilkeston away.

Che Adams and Kieran Wallace's former club will stage the Blades first pre season challenge. Ilkeston finished 5th in the EVO stik league last season with a total of 81 points, 11 points of the league champions FC United. Kevin Wilson's side will prove a stern test for the Blades. Che Adams will be relishing the opportunity of going back to the New Manor Ground.

Next up is Cheltenham Town

The Blades will face Cheltenham away on Tuesday 21st of July. Previously relegated Cheltenham faced United in the FA cup in 2003 where the Blades smashed them 4-0. Cheltenham fans didn't have a lot to cheer about last season. Their top goalscorer finished with a total of 4 goals and they recently released 8 players notably Mathieu Manset. Manager Gary Johnson will be looking forward to Nigel Adkins new Blades outfit travelling to the Abby Business Ground.

Exeter away is the Blades third pre season game

Exeter will also provide a stern test for the Blades in their pre season programme. Going well in League 2 they are also on the verge of developing ST James Park. They recently earned 1.75million from Swansea as they bought Matt Grimes. Finishing strongly in League 2 their top goalscorer finished with 15 goals. The Blades may face a difficult asset and maybe pushed to the limit against a in form Exeter.

Chris Morgan's testimonial will take place at Bramall Lane against Newcastle United, now managed by Steve McClaren. Newcastle survived relegation on the last day beating West Ham with goals from Gutierrez who they have now released by a phone call. Although a near miss in the premier league, a new look Newcastle side will prove a real hard test for Adkins men. This will probably give Blades fans a picture of where the squad is at so close to the season facing such difficult opponents.

Next up is Macclesfield Town...

Macclesfield are in National League the EVO Stick Premier League one league below League 2. They will provide a difficult opponent for the Blades as they went quite well in their League last season. Their top goal scorer scored a decent total of 10 goals. They finished 6th just outside the play offs by one point. This team will cause problems for Adkins men but hopefully by the 29th of July we will be seeing the squad complete and ready to go for Gillingham away.

Last but not least it's Hull City at Bramall Lane.

Now this is where we will probably see Adkins decide on his strongest squad. Hull relegated from the PL will almost certainly put a strong team out managed by Steve Bruce. Ex Blade Harry Maguire will possibly be starting and returning to the Lane, although Stephen Quinn won't as he nears a move to Reading. This will be a good test right before the start of the season and will help Nigel decide where we are at Vs Championship opposition.

Thursday, 11 June 2015

Nigel Adkins, became the new Sheffield United manager 9 days ago. Fans we're pestering Jim Phipps (co chairman) on social media and Twitter was been refreshed at least every 5 seconds. But finally after that the announcement was made that proven promotion winning manager Nigel Adkins would take over the Blades at a press conference in London. Joined by Andy Crosby and Dean Wilkins, Adkins made it clear that he's determined that this season he will get the Blades into the Championship. Adkins has promotions on his CV and is proven in League 1 having taken teams such as Scunthorpe and Southampton up to the next level and i believe this is what got him the job, United want a proven manager that#s been their and got the t-shirt and this man certainly has once again a clear show of intent from our board prizing some of Nigel's calibre to a club. Nigel, is now known as 'positive Nigel' amongst the United fan base as his philosophy is positive,exciting,thrilling football unlike his predecessor 'negative Nigel Clough'. Blades fans have now been re galvanised by such a great appointment and are now looking forward to a thrilling season and ATTACKING FOOTBALL!!

Tuesday, 6 January 2015

For people who are unaware Tom Bradshaw is a striker for Walsall and Wales. After joining Walsall for free in the summer, Tom has proven why he one of the most prolific strikers in his division. After picking up 14 goals in 21 appearances its no surprise that almost every team below the BPL have him on their radar. Tom is a striker who if needed can play in the attacking center forward role. His best formation to work in is 4-4-1-1 with an experienced and talented center forward just behind him. This formation works so well simply because its what he has adjusted too whilst his time at the Bescot

Bradshaw who also has 8 appearances for U21 Wales has got a future chance to play for the Wales first team, which would see him link up with football’s most expensive player Gareth Bale. Aged 22 it is without doubt that Bradshaw has got a fantastic 10 years ahead of him whether that is at Walsall or anywhere else. Starting his career in Wales he quickly made an impact, aged 18 he made a move to England with League 2 side Shrewsbury Town where he picked up 17 goals in 89 league appearances.

My view on Tom Bradshaw is obviously biased with me being a Walsall fan. However the way he has performed this season you just can’t go wrong when we got him for FREE in the summer. If we were to sell him then Walsall have just had the best of both worlds with his prodigious goal tally and the hefty fee we could get for him in the next transfer window.

Thanks to Dylan @SaddlersScene for composing this piece, Dylan is a Aspiring Journalist and also a Walsall fan so go check his Twitter account and follow the Bradshaw story too and also check out his website coming soon.

What's your thoughts tweet me @Max_Goddard9 with your views would Bradshaw be a good signing for the Blades frontline?

Monday, 22 December 2014

With Sheffield United sitting 5th in the league 1 table having booked their self a trip to Tottenham away, they are currently on a run of 8 straight home games without a win. So I thought i'd write a article to highlight how key the January transfer window is to our season, a few good buys and we could be on a level playing field with teams such as MK Dons and, Bristol City. So i went on the forums and Twitter, and Facebook pages and looked at what the usually reliable posters said and here was the names that cropped up the most.

Samy Morsy

With Clough recently travelling to watch League 1 newcomers Chesterfield at Crawley a couple of weeks ago, Sammy Morsy name seem to crop us as a replacment to the retiring Michael Doyle. Morsy aged 23, has been regarded highly latley and is a Centre box-to-box midfilder but can also score goals and gets at opposition defences with his rapid blistering pace. Morsy was involved in Chesterfield's win at home to the Blades this year setting up Jimmy Ryan for the first goal. He started his career at Wolves (1999-2008) then he went to Port Vale where ex Blades boss, Micky Adams gave him his senior debut, making 71 apps and scoring 4 goals. He made his senior debut Febuary 2010. Then he left Port Vale in 2013 an from then onwards has been running the Chesterfield midfield and was part of the title winning season in league 2 last season and went on to win the player of the year. He's made 40apps and scored 2 goals in his time so far, but has provided many many assist.

Jimmy Ryan

Jimmy Ryan is also a rumoured target, Ryan's name was brought to the table by maybe more of a reliable source The Sun. They say Clough is very intrested and Ryan is to as it will bumoer his wages and more chance of promotion. Ryan 26, scored against the Blades playing in midfield with Sammy Morsy and maybe a replacment for Doyle too. He too is a box to box attacking midfielder, and i must say doing my research on him Chestefield fans value him as one of their key players he keeps them ticking over it seems. His most recent goal was on Saturday where he secured a late winner for Chestefield and what a goal it was too. His career is scattered with various loan spells, he started his acdemy days at Liverpool, making 0apps and 0goals. Liverpool sent him on loan to Shrewsbury he had 1app and scored 0goals. He earned a permanent move to Shrewsbury, and had 4apps that season and scored 0goals. In 2008 he left to play for Paul Cook's Accrington, playing 129 times and scoring 22 goals. Then he moved to Scunthorpe in 2011 and played 69 times and score 4goals. It seemed he blossemed under Cook so Cook took him from Scunthorpe to Chesterfield so far he's played 60goals and 4 goals so far 1 of them coming against the Blades. He also made a appearance for the Republic of Ireland u21's 4 apps and scoring 1 goal, decent for a midfielder and belive it or not he's only 26, still a lot to add the table. Would he be a good addition for us?

Eoin Doyle

Eoin Doyle has hit the floor running this season and is currently the League 1 top scorer notching an impressive 16 goals this season. 1 of them coming against the Blades too. He's been in fine form recently and his name has been mentioned and he's been linked to many well known clubs including Milwall and Bristol City to name a few. Chesterfield are believed to have slapped a £1million pound price tag on him and talking to many people at Chesterfield whilst on work experince they say Eoin would find it hard to turn down a move to the Blades. He's played 61 apps since his move from Hibs and scored 25goals so far for them, he has many suitors and is a wanted man but Clough is known to like a good irish striker and this one is inform, and with the cup money maybe this would give us a advantage over Milwall and Bristol City?

What do you think could these additons add quality to our squad? Cloughie is believe to have also be preparing a bid for legend John Brayford too. His eagerness too never give up on targets such as Chris O'Grady has seem to pay off in the past and to bring players in Russell Slade needs to shift players out. Could the beard be returning? These signings need to act quick, so they can jell toghether and fire us up the league 1 table.

Going out is belived to be Andy Butler, he is belived to have had a fall out with Clough and so has Neil Collins, tallks have already belive to have begun with Doncaster for Andy Butler who their faithful have been saying how key he is to them and to get him permanently. Tweet me with your opinions @Max_Goddard9 and also where do you think we will get in Jnaurary?

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Sheffield United have completed the signing of Chris O'Grady the ex Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley striker has solved their striker problem. O'Grady is currently nursing a slight injury so won't play tomorrow Vs Notts County. But this is a massive transfer cue for the Blades and this move looks to be made permanent if Clough is happy with his performances. My views on this are that this is a exceptional signing for the Blades and this must put us up their with 5 quality strikers now on our books.

Clough said: "Chris was a target for us in the summer, but Brighton came in with a deal we simply couldn't match in terms of wages and what they could have been potentially offering him as a playing challenge."